Picker stick check



June 15, 1965 PICKER STICK CHECK Filed Sept. 19, 1963 7 FIG. I;

E l'h i' 1 :urso I il'l :l P i I In? 1 I i i L :1 J'

J"?! H'n INVENTOR PAUL ZOBRIST I it Elfin ATTORNEY.

United States Patent O 3,189,055 PllCKER STlIQK CEECK Paul Zobrist, Charlotte, N.C., assignor to Uster Corporation, Charlotte, N.C., a corporation of North Carolina Filed Sept. 19, 1963, Ser. No. 310,012 17 Claims. (Cl. 139164) This invention rel-ates to the art of check devices for the picker sticks of looms, more particularly to an improved picker stick check permitting adjustable control of picker stick movement during both shuttle checking and shuttle casting to effect desired shock and noise damping, and to insure positioning of the picker stick at the end of its cycle of movement at a location with respect to the loom lay :so as to obtain eificient cooperation between the picker stick and shuttle on each cycle of shuttle traverse.

Contemporary weaving developments have resulted in a steady increase in loom operating speeds, necessitating an increase in the precision with which the motion of the picker stick is controlled in order to insure desired casting of the shuttle across the loom lay and checking of the shuttle at the end of its traverse. Previously employed picker checks have included leather straps which have functioned primarily to effect shuttle checking and have proven unsatisfactory even for this purpose particularly where the humidity of the atmosphere is subject to variation, so that the elastic effect exerted by the strap on the picker stick is subject to change thus varying the checking action. These previously employed straps were further unsatisfactory in that they did not permit accurate adjustment of the checking operation, and produced an undesired abruptness to t-he checking action producing relatively rapid deterioration of the picker stick, and/or the check strap. Hydraulic picker checks which have been evolved, though serving to provide gradual cushioning of the checking action, are relatively complex and expensive requiring costly production and maintenance operations. In checking the motion of the picker stick, it is not only desirable to damp the shock and noise loads produced by the impact of the shuttle on the picker stick, but it is further desirable to insure relatively precise positioning of the picker stick with respect to the loom lay at the end of each cycle of movement of the stick so as to orient the picker stick at a desired point to receive or cast the shuttle on its next traverse across the loom lay.

It is with the above problems and desiderata in mind, that the present means, including both method and apparatus, have been evolved serving to check the motion of a picker stick during both shuttle checking and shuttle casting and to insure its desired positioning with respect to the loom lay so as to obtain desired coac-tion between the picker stick and with minimal noise and shock loads.

It is accordingly among the primary objects of this invention to provide an improved picker check serving to damp the noise and shock loads produced by impact or" the shuttle upon the picker stick during both shuttle casting and shuttle checking, and insuring desired positioning of the picker stick with respect to the loom lay so as to taci'litate attainment ozf'the desired cooperation between the picker stick and shuttle.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved loom check serving to check the motion of the picker stick in both directions of its movement with respect .to the loom lay.

It is also an object of the invention to provide an improved loom check subject to ready adjustment to provide desired picker control.

Another object of the invention is to provide a loom check Which brings the picker stick to rest at a desired position with respect to the loom lay in a relatively smooth fashion minimizing undesired jolts on the equipment.

A further important object of the invention is to pro- Patented June 15, 1955 ICC vide a picker stick check of relatively simple construction, subject to ready positioning with respect to conventional loom lays.

It is also an object of the invention to provide a picker stick check, which checks the motion of the picker stick without exerting deleterious frictional forces on the stick.

These and other objects of the invention which will become hereafter apparent are achieved by forming a trackway of opposed channel members. Constraining means for the picker stick are provided in the form of a slide block arranged for slidable movement on said trackway, and the fn'ctional forces between the trackway and the slide block are subject to adjustment by means of leaf springs cantilevered in the trackw-ay and subject to having their tensions adjusted by means of a manually actuated pressure pad so as to regulate the pressure exerted on the side Walls of the slideblock. The slide block is formed with a slot through which the picker stick extends, and

the slot is made of a length such as to permit a desired period of free motion for the picker stick with respect to the slide block. At the end of the trachway means limiting the movement of the slide block and cons-trained picker stick are formed by stop members in the form of resilient shock absorbing cushioning blocks arranged to limit the motion oi the slide block. The assembled picker check i arranged beneath the loom lay by securing the flanges of the channels .to the flanges of the loom lay and arranging the check device so that the members are at the desired extremes of the path of movement of the slide block necessary to obtain desired positioning of the picker stick. As a result of the constraint of the picker stick in the slide block slot, the picker stick will be subject to a period of free movement in the slot of the slide block, a period of restrained movement as it moves with the slide block, and a limitation of its constrained movement when the slide block contacts the stop member, thus producing smooth gradual checking of picker stick movement in both directions of travel of the picker stick, and a positioning of the picker stick at a desired location with respect to the loom lay for'subsequent stopping and casting of the shuttle as it moves across the loom. The friction forces employed for picker stick braking are applied between the slide block and the trachway, and not directly to the stick, thus reducing stick Wear.

Among the features of the invention is the use of the relatively inexpensive picker stick con-straining slide block formed of .a relatively resilient material such as nylon, or the like plastic with high imp-act and Wear properties whereby impact loads on the picker stick will be gradually dissipated by the motion of the slide block, and its elastic deformation.

A further feature of the invention resides in the stop members limiting the motion of slide block and picker stick in both directions of travel and absorbing shock 103d.

Another feature of the invention resides in the use of cantilevered leaf springs to exert a friction force on the slide block, thereby implementing the ease with which the checking action may be adjusted by varying the spring tensions exerted on the slide block to permit ready control of the motion of the picker stick to insure its desired positioning with respect to the loom lay.

A further feature of the invention resides in the formation of the trackway of opposed S-shaped channels, Whereby the upper flange of the channel forms a securing member for the traclcway defined by the lower part of the channel.

The specific details of a preferred embodiment of the invention, and their mode of functioning Will be made most manifest and particularly pointed out in clear, concise and exact terms in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

sasaoes FIG. 1 is a schematic elevational view of one end of the loom lay showing the novel picker check arranged with respect to the loom lay; and

FIG. 2 is a bottom plan view looking up at the picker check shown in FIG. 1; and

FIG. 3 is an end elevational view showing the improved picker check in position as in FIG. 1; and

FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view of the picker check device.

Referring now more particularly to the drawings, like numerals in the various figures will be employed to designate like parts.

As seen in the drawings, a picker check device embodying the instant inventive concept is provided with a trackiway between the lower inwardly facing channels of a reverse S-shaped channel member 11 and an S-shaped channel member 12, as best seen in FIGS. 3 and 4. Channel members 11 and 12 are provided with upper securing flanges 13 and 14, respectively, which are formed with bolt passing slots 15 to permit the passage therethrough of a bolt or the like fastening member to facilitate securement of the picker check to theunderside of the loom lay L as best seen in FIGS. 1 and 3. Lower flanges 18 and 19 of channel members 11 and 12, respectively, define the lower surface of a trackway, as will become hereafter more apparent. Channel side walls 20 and 21 of channel members 11 and 12 respectively define the lateral limits of the track-way, and walls 22 and 23 define the upper wall of the trackway. Secured to trackway side walls 20 and 21 are cantilevered leaf springs, here shown as four in number. Leaf springs 25 and 26 are slightly bowed as viewed in FIG. 4 and anchored at their ends 27 and 28 respectively to the tr-ackway side walls 20, while the adjacent ends 29 and 30 of leaf springs 25 and 26 respectively remain free thus providing a cantilever mounting for the leaf springs.

-A complementary pair of leaf springs 31 and 32 similar to leaf springs 25 and 26 are cantilivered with respect to trackway side Wall 21 as seen to the right in FIG. 4. An externally threaded hollow nipple 35 is secured to side wall 21 to extend externally therefrom, and pressure pad 36 is formed with pin 37 which extends through nipple 35. Pressure pad 36 is dimensioned to fit within the trackway defined by the inwardly facing channels at the lower part of channel members 11 and 12, and to extend over the free ends of springs 31 and 32. Surrounding pin 37 within nipple 35 is compression spring 38, one end of which bears against pressure pad 36, and the other end of which bears against the interior of hollow adjusting knob 40. Adjusting knob 40 has an internally threaded collar 41 which mates with the externally threaded surface of nipple 35. Knurling 42 implements manual gripping to effect rotation of the knob 40.

Motion limiting shock absorbing stop members 47 and 48 in the form of resilient blocks fabricated of rubher or the like shock absorbing material are arranged at the ends of the trackways defined by'the channels 11 and 12. The blocks forming stop members 47 and 48 are dimensioned to fit within the internally facing lower parts of channel members 11 and 12, and are provided with laterally extending threaded bolt members 50 on each side thereof, as best seen in FIG. 4. Bolt members 50 are employed to effect assembly of the check device by extending the bolt members 50 through apertures 51 at the anchored ends of leaf springs 25, 26, 31 and 32, and through mating apertures 52 in the ends of the trackway side walls 20 and 21 of channel members 11 and 12 respectively. The free end of bolt members 50 is engaged by nuts 54 which permit the interior surfaces of trackway side walls 20 and 21 to be drawn up against the side walls. of stop members 47 and 48 to the orientation illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 3.

The picker stick constraining slide block dimensioned to move freely between the slideway side walls 29 and 21 is arranged on lower flanges 18 and 19 at the lower part of channel members 11 and 12, as best seen in FIGS. 2 and 4. The slide block 61) is formed with a slot 61 of a width greater than the thickness of picker stick P and of a length defining a path of limited free travel for the picker stick P. A relatively friction- -free material having good wear properties and high impact resistance is employed in fabricating the slide block. Materials such as Polydur, or similar plastics are found particularly suitable for this purpose.

Operation In use the novel picker check 10 is arranged beneath the loom lay L, as best seen in FIG. 1 by inserting bolts or the like fastening members through slots 15 in the upper flanges 13 and 14 of channel members 11 and 12 and securing the channel members 11 and 12 with respect to the loom lay L by the use of appropriate nuts N which are accessible to tightening through the open outwardly extending upper channel portions of channel members 11 and 12 beneath securing flanges 13 and 14 as best seen in FIG. 3. The channel members 11 and 12 are arranged with respect to the loom lay so that the picker stick P will be at a desired orientation with respect to the shuttle S to contact the shuttle at the end of its desired trajectory across the loom lay. By virtue of the length of slots 15 adjustment to obtain this desired orientation may readily be affected.

It will be understood by those skilled in the art that the precision with which the picker stick may be stopped is dependent upon the resiliency of stop members 47 and 48, and the friction applied by leaf springs 25, 26, 31 and 32 to the side walls of slide bloc-k 60.

As the shuttle S contacts the picker at the top of picker stick P, the picker stick will start to move. Additionally since the picker stick is at a point remote from the ends of slot 61 in slide block 60 the picker stick will move through a path of limited free travel until it contacts the end of slot 61 in slide block 60. At this time the motion of the picker stick is restrained by the fact that the slide block must be moved along with the picker stick. The degree of restraint is determined by the pressure exerted by the springs 25, 26, 31 and 32 on the side walls of slide block 60. This pressure is subject to adjustment by means of adjusting knob 40, rotation of which effects the positioning of pressure pad 36. As will be understood by those skilled in the art when the pressure pad 36 is forced against the springs 31 and 32 there will be an increase in frictional force between the leaf springs and the side walls of the slide block which serves toincrease the restraint exerted on picker stick movement once the picker stick contacts the end of slide block slot 61. Conversely loosening of adjusting knob 40 releases the pressure on compression spring 38 and the forces exerted on pressure pad 36, along with the forces biasing the leaf springs against the side walls of the slide block 60 thus reducing the restraint exerted on the movement of the picker stick.

After movement through its limited period of free travel in slot 61 the picker stick contacts an end of the slot 61 in slide block 60, and the picker stick moves through a path of restrained movement until slide block 60 contacts one of the stop members 47 or 48 depending on the direction of the movement of the picker stick. Upon contact of the slide block with the stop member, the stop member is slightly compressed dissipating the shock and noise load imparted thereto by contact of the slide block with the stop member and storing energy in the manner of conventional cushioning members. Due to the elasticity of the stop member, after the slide block has reached its maximum limit of travel the potential energy stored in the stop member by compression thereof under the action of the slide member will be released forcv (To the left as viewed in FIG. 1.)

ing the slide member 60 in a direction opposed to its direction of movement against the stop member thus bouncing the slide block 66 away from the stop member to a position at some slight distance therefrom. The distance of bouncing is subject to regulation by adjusting the pressure exerted by the leaf springs on the side walls of the slide block 60, and this distance of bouncing is selected to be such as to insure positioning of the'picker stick at a position with respect to the loom lay to effect desired cooperation of the picker stick with the shuttle to obtain regularity of shuttle casting and checking. Though the spring tension may be set to prevent any bounce, the clearance between the check components produced by the bounce is found desirable to prevent any possible binding.

During the shuttle checking portion of the cycle of operation of the picker stick, since the combined mass of the slide block 60 and picker stick P is greater than the individual mass of the picker stick, and slide block per se, the momentum imparted to the combined mass of.

slide block and picker stick results in combined movement of both components under the bouncing action of the stop member, and some slight motion of the picker stick after the slide block has dissipated the potential energy imparted thereto by the stop member. Thus the picker stick at the end of its checking action will assume a position at some point displaced from the end of slot 61.

During the shuttle casting portion of the cycle of operation of the picker stick, the picker stick moves freely from its point of rest in the slot 61 (at the left as viewed in FIG. 1) to the opposite end of the slot (to the right as viewed in FIG. 1) until it strikes the end of the slot carrying the slide block 60. The check is so adjusted that the shuttle will have been cast from the picker by the time the picker stick has contacted the right end of the slot 61, so that there is no energy loss prior to casting. After the free period of movement of the picker stick in the slot 61, it is restrained by contact with the block 60, and moves through a period of restrained travel until the block 6%, contacts limiting stop 48, at which time any shock loads are damped by the stop member. It will be observed that the novel check 10 acts on the picker stick in both directions of movement thereof so that the picker stick is checked on the one hand as it receives the shuttle S, as viewed in FIG. 1, and on the other hand as it casts the shuttle. As a result, the loom check controls picker stick movement in both directions of movement of the picker stick and serves to insure desired positioning of the picker stick with respect to the loom lay so as to effect cooperation of the picker stick with respect to the shuttle to'insure desired smoothness of weaving.

The above disclosure has been given by way of illustration and elucidation, and not by way of limitation, and it is desired to protect all embodiments of the herein disclosed inventive concept within the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. Means for checking picker stick travel saidmeans comprising: constraining means slidable with the picker stick defining a path of limited .free travel for the picker stick and a path of restrained, movement for the picker stick after its free travel; and limiting means terminating the restrained movement of the picker stick at the desired limit of travel.

2. Means as in claim 1 in which said constraining means comprise slidable means; and friction meansengage said slidable means.

3. Means as in claim 1 in which said limiting means comprise shock absorbing means.

4. Means as in claim 1 in which limiting means are arranged on opposite sides of the picker stick to limit its restrained movement during shuttle checking and shuttle casting.

5. A method for checking picker stick travel, said method comprising the steps of constraining the picker stick in a defined path of limited free travel; impinging the stick on a slidable restraint; and limiting the sliding move ment of the restraint at the desired limit of travel.

6. A method as in claim 5 including the step of frictionally engaging the slidable restraint.

7. A method as in claim 5 in which said "step of limiting the sliding movement is accompanied by the step of simultaneously cushioning the stick at its limit of travel.

8. A picker stick check comprising: a trackway; a slide block slidably mounted on said trackway, said slide block having a slot therein through which the picker stick extends and within which the picker stick may freely move; and a stop member at an end of said trackway limiting the movement of said block therealong.

9. A picker stick check as in claim 8 'in which said trackway has spring members arranged therein frictionally engaging said slide block to restrain its movement.

10. A picker stick check as in claim 9 in which a pressure pad bears against said spring members; and adjusting means are coupled to said pressure pad to permit regulation of the pressure exerted by said pads on said springs.

11. A picker stick check as in claim 8 in which said stop member comprises a block of resilient shock damping material.

12. A picker stick check as in claim 8 in which said trackway comprises a pair of opposed channel members.

13. A picker stick check as in claim 8 in which said trackway comprises a reverse S-shaped channel and an S-shaped channel, said channels having upper securing flanges implementing fastening of said trackway to a loom.

1.4. A picker stick check comprising a slide block having a slot therein through which the picker stick extends and in which the picker stick is constrained for free movement along a path of travel delimited by the length of the slot; a trackway slidably mounting said slide block; securing means on said trackway for coupling same with respect to the loom; and stop members in said trackway on opposed ends thereof limiting the movement of said slide block under the action of the picker stick when the picker stick has contacted the ends of the slot.

15. A picker stick check as in claim 14 in which said trackway and securing means are formed by a reverse S-shaped channel member and having an inwardly facing channel portion cooperating with an inwardly facing channel portion of an S-shaped channel member to define the trackway and upper flanges forming the securing means.

16. A picker stick check as in claim 14 in which spring members are arranged in said trackway in frictional engagement with said slide block.

17. A picker stick check as in claim 16 in which adjustable pressure means are supported by said trackway in contact with said spring means whereby the frictional engagement of said slide block may be controlled.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 591,122 10/97 Wright 139164 752,342 2/04 Jarry 139164 1,155,529 10/15 Vaillancourt 139164 1,328,018 l/ZO Snow 139165 1,341,394 5/20 Stone 139164 1,448,909 3/23 Blake l 139-164 2,646,082 7/53 Franklin et al 139-164 2,672,893 3/54 Kuykendall 139--16 DONALD W. PARKER, Primary Examiner. 

1. MEANS FOR CHECKING PICKER STICK TRAVEL SAID MEANS COMPRISING: CONSTRAINING MEANS SLIDABLE WITH THE PICKER STICK DEFINING A PATH OF LIMITED FREE TRAVEL FOR THE PICKER STICK AND A PATH OF RESTRAINED MOVEMENT FOR THE PICKER STICK AFTER ITS FREE TRAVEL; AND LIMITING MEANS TERMINATING THE RESTRICTED MOVEMENT OF THE PICKER STICK AT THE DESIRED LIMIT OF TRAVEL. 